ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said:: “We have been conscious that the emergence of a delta variant may increase the likelihood of an outbreak, as we move away from strict enforcement of a biosafe environment. We made a strategic choice to try to optimize the protocol So that our players and management support the overall well being of the staff, who have lived in very limited circumstances in the last 14 months.
“Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duty as captain. We also recognize the impact this news has had on our first-class counties and their men’s playing squads and thank them, along with our partners Sky and Royal London, for their continued support in tackling this pandemic. “
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